West Virginia’s rugged terrain and expansive forests support diverse wildlife. A common question concerns the presence of bears within the state. Black bears are a significant part of West Virginia’s natural heritage.
Black Bears Across West Virginia
American black bears (Ursus americanus) are present throughout West Virginia, inhabiting all 55 counties. While found statewide, their populations are more concentrated in heavily forested and mountainous regions. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) estimates the state’s black bear population at 13,000 to 14,000 individuals. This figure represents an increase of over 50% during the 21st century, highlighting successful conservation efforts.
Effective wildlife management strategies led to the black bear population’s resurgence. By the early 1970s, the population was estimated at fewer than 500 animals, confined to about 10 eastern mountain counties. Research into bear biology and habitat, along with adaptive hunting regulations, facilitated this recovery. The WVDNR monitors bear populations through track surveys, den site surveys, and analyzing harvest data. These practices ensure the bear population’s long-term health.
Understanding Bear Habits
Black bears are omnivorous, with their diet changing seasonally. In spring, after emerging from dens, natural food sources are scarce, leading them to seek tender plants like grasses, clovers, and dandelions. As seasons progress, their diet expands to include berries such as raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries in summer. In the fall, they consume large quantities of nuts, like acorns and hickory nuts, to build fat reserves for winter denning.
While primarily plant-based, their diet also includes insects, grubs, fish, carrion, and occasionally small mammals or fawns. Black bears enter winter dens between late October and early December, emerging around March or April. During this denning period, they do not eat, drink, or excrete waste. Though not true hibernators, they enter a state of torpor, and some may briefly leave dens during warm spells.
Black bears reach reproductive maturity around 3.5 to 5 years of age. Breeding occurs in late May or June. Fertilized eggs undergo delayed implantation, with cubs born in the den in January or February. A female produces two to three cubs every two to three years, and cubs remain with their mother for about 16 to 18 months.
Black bears are solitary animals, except for females with cubs or during breeding season. They are mostly active during dawn and dusk, but can adapt to human environments when food is accessible.
Living Safely with Bears
Coexisting with black bears in West Virginia requires preventative measures to minimize human-bear conflicts. A primary step is to eliminate readily available food sources around homes and campsites. This includes securing garbage in bear-resistant containers, removing bird feeders by mid-March when bears become active, and storing pet food indoors. Cleaning outdoor grills after each use and storing them securely also deters bears attracted by food odors. Intentional feeding of bears is illegal in West Virginia and can lead to bears losing their natural wariness of humans, often resulting in harm to the bear.
If a bear encounter occurs, remaining calm is important. Do not approach the bear, and running away can trigger a chase response. Instead, slowly back away, giving the bear a clear escape route. Making yourself known by waving your arms and speaking in a calm voice can encourage the bear to leave.
If a black bear charges or makes contact, fighting back aggressively is advised rather than playing dead. Carrying bear spray and knowing how to use it can also be a deterrent. The WVDNR should be contacted to report aggressive or nuisance bears. These actions help protect both human safety and the bears’ well-being.